Happy Australia Day

In my Australia Day Newsletter I gave details of a wonderful local Mum, Sarah Mycroft, who became the first woman to run, yes, literally run, around Australia.  Do you receive my Newsletters? 

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!  Our local Shire held celebrations at The Rock, my home town, so I enjoyed the morning in the heat watching the presentations and being an AUSSIE with the normal damper, egg and sausage brekky.

It's always a lot of fun, normally hot and dry like it was today, so everyone is also thirsty - good excuse.

Today was no exception so thought you may enjoy some country small town celebrations. 

Our future - small children playing with their Aussie Flags.

The presentation platform on a hired truck is behind the marquee tent.

Another view where the food was being offered.

Because it is AUSTRALIA DAY, allow me to brag about some MADE IN AUSTRALIA products!  Three of our grandchildren attended school formals towards the end of 2011 and we're proud of them.

Kirsten is 18 and about to enter Wollongong Uni for Nursing.  Nicholas is 17 and attending Albury High.

Courtney is 16 (the one in blue) and attending St. Johns in Nowra on the South Coast of NSW. 

My regulars have followed these youngsters growing up over the years!

The girls' Jack Russell pet, Mollie, gave birth to some puppies a fortnight ago and today youngest Grandson, Hunter, was visiting them and the look on his face tells it all!

Hope you don't mind me indulging on a special day like today is!

Westalee Patchwork Online Classes

The year is starting to get into full swing with many now returning from Annual Holidays and I've been busy planning 2012 with new Online Classes to offer you.

One of our most popular Online Classes held in 2011 was most definitely the Westalee Mystery Sampler Quilt and another commences on 1st February 2012; enrollments and pre class communications are in progress now, if you'd like to consider joining us.  Many past students wanted to continue, so I am proud to announce an "exclusive to Punch with Judy" course commencing on 15th February 2012 from Westalee Design Rulers.

The "Westalee Constellation Quilt" will certainly give you more than first meets the eye as the classes will also include a second quilt using the Constellation Series plus fabulous new ideas for the Double Wedding Ring and Dresden Plate - old favourites.  I'm so excited about what we have in this course and it's only $30.00 for the whole 10 lessons - that's total, not each lesson!

Of course, other Online Classes commence in the following months and you may consider any of those here including Punchneedle Embroidery, Pleat Maker and Curve Master - all repeat Online Classes.

If you don't know how Online Classes are presented, you may wish to attend our first WEBINAR to be announced shortly.  Read about what a Webinar is here.

Have you visited my website this week?  Tell me what you think of our new Home Page and Shop Page?  Tried to make it a little more compact so as you could see things at a glance. 

Would appreciate your comments.

Don't forget to visit EVERY day during January to see what the daily special offer is during our JANUARY WEBSITE'S 11TH BIRTHDAY SALE.  There have been some fabulous bargains and more to come! 

ENJOY! My way of saying THANK YOU for being loyal customers.

New Year's Eve

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my bloggers!

Another great year to look forward to. 

May I extend Best Wishes to everyone.

HEALTH, WEALTH & PROSPERITY.

2012 was ushered in at our house by the female members of the family because ALL the males were in bed before the clock struck 12!  Grandsons had gone "out celebrating" with their mates, but our Granddaughters livened the place up with their antics.

This is "before" and the following is "after" the lights went out!

Their luminous hats and glasses glowed in the dark.

They had so much fun with these. Purchased in a packet and they had to make them up.

As all teenagers do today, communicate with friends via Facebook - one of them told "city" friends they were celebrating at Grandma's & Grandpa's emu farm - what a hoot!  Friend said "kiss an emu for me"!  Jasmine and Ashleigh decided to take up the challenge and went down the paddock in the dark with camera ready to do just that.  Naturally, the emus weren't interested but the giggles of these two in the paddock in the dark soon changed as "Midge" heard them and came bolting up frightening the living daylights out of them.  So, they settled for the next best - sending their friends via Facebook a photo of Jasmine kissing a sheep (Midge) for New Year!

A little blurry because I think Ashleigh (photographer) was still shaking, either with laughter or fright???

Was delightful having them all present for such an occasion.  

Hope yours was as full of laughter as ours was.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

Last Days of 2011

As we near the end of 2011, we are most fortunate to be spending these days with our entire family.  Our three children and all our grandchildren are visiting for a few days.
We enjoyed a barbeque and sharing of gifts with much fun, laughter, jokes, teasing, sharing stories and recent experiences.  We discussed solutions to the Nation's problems but also appreciated gratitude for our well-being and togetherness as a family.
My apologies to Jasmine who was "behind" some of her cousins in this snap, but wanted to share our family with you.

The age of technology and what most grandchildren are brought up with as second nature to their daily lives.  Hunter (3) and Nick (17 tomorrow) share games on iPADS.

We have enjoyed walks, games, tending to animals, riding the quad bikes and trying to catch a Yabbie. "Midge" (a sheep I bottle-fed) delighted all by joining in accepting lots of attention and a few slices of bread.
Farmer John "conned" some into helping mark lambs!
Kirsten and Courtney had to catch them, pass them on to Rowan, John did the "nasties" and Ashleigh painted them with "medicine".  Hunter and I just watched - someone has to supervise and someone has to be the photographer!

I hope you enjoy reading my Happy New Year Newsletter including my Year in Review.  You may subscribe on my website.  More tomorrow as 2012 begins!

Don't Forget!  Our January 11th Website's Birthday Sale begins tomorrow!  A new special daily, so you must check each day and order each day, don't pop things into your Wish List.  Check here for full details.

After Christmas

After Christmas is a quiet time, just lazin' around, doing nothin', listening to music, catching up, no phone ringing, post office not open so no mail going out, cleaning up, sorting out, just wastin' time; but it is certainly nice and I'm lapping it up.
We had a lovely Christmas at our daughter's house.  Hope yours was enjoyed with your family and close friends.  Everyone happy with their presents; both John and I were spoilt by the "kids" too.

Eldest grandson, Reece, was delighted with two little Orpington chicks on Christmas Eve, but even more delighted with the Christmas Coop received on Christmas Day. 

This came "flat-packed", now you all would relate to assembling "something or other" on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day!

It's a beauty though, with two "nests" inside and a lid to lift to gather eggs.  Perfect for the clucky chook to sit on her eggs and hatch them, safe from harm's way.  I WANT ONE TOO!

Those who have followed me for some time, know that a few Christmases ago I was searching for an authentic feather duster and you helped me find a few.  By now, they have lost most of their feathers.  Sharelle found this little treat at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, on a school excursion and just had to buy it for me, (even though she had told the school children that they were not to buy anything) and has kept it most of the year until Christmas.  What a treat!  It is so full and fluffy.  I really think they are Emu Feathers too!

Crazy getting excited over housework, I hear you saying!!!!

I have a great recommendation for you: go to the movies and see "RED DOG" but take some tissues!  We enjoyed it immensely.  John said (with tissue in hand) that he was going home to give our own "Rusty" a big hug!  He's old, deaf and not moving very well at all these days.  Of course, I'm referring to Rusty!

Braided Christmas Wreath

Less than one week till Christmas, so here are some last minute quick Christmas Decorations that are so simple to make that even the children can have some fun entertaining themselves now that school has finished.
Of course, with a little help from you!

On my website there are many FREE Projects so here are some reminders:  Clover's Holiday Flower Frills is very appealing; made with Clover's Flower Frill Templates.

Plus, the December Newsletter from Into Craft has been released and we have another FREE Project in this edition.  Visit http://www.intocraft.com.au/ and you'll find instructions for our Braided Christmas Wreath.  You may make this from filled fabric tubes in no time at all.  Ours is made using Fasturn Turning Tools.  Another FREE Project on my website.

Do have FUN making these and/or teaching your youngsters some handcrafts.

Today I sent a Newsletter to all my subscribers offering a large number of NEW books for half price so as everyone could treat themselves to a special Christmas present to go under the Christmas Tree "to me from me" sort of thing. 

Not a Member?  Subscribe now, then email me for the list and you too may treat yourself for Christmas.

Punch AND Judy

People ask frequently about our "peculiar" name and an explanation is given on our website's homepage as follows:
(Sketch to the right was drawn a few years ago by our eldest Granddaughter, Kirsten.  Talented artist!)

WHY “PUNCH WITH JUDY”?

"In 1991 Judy Hall commenced exhibiting at Craft Shows, demonstrating and selling the “IGOLOCHKOY” Russian Punchneedles – the ORIGINAL punchneedles used by the immigrants from the Ukraine. This was the ONLY product Judy sold, unlike the vast array of treasures she sells on her booths today. Hence the name "PUNCH WITH JUDY” was chosen as the business name. Judy is still fascinated by the versatility of punchneedle embroidery and continues to demonstrate and teach the art wherever she exhibits."

The photo shown here was taken at a show way back in the early 90's when crowds were so deep at every booth that it was difficult to get close to see what all the "fuss" was about.  Each State only had one show per year and remember how you would save up all year and never dare to miss it?

Yes, Shows, Booths and Punch with Judy have come a long way since then.

 

Why this little nostalgic trip?  It is nearly Christmas and as you are all thinking about "giving", I want to do some "asking".  I have a little collection of Punch AND Judy memorabilia but it is so very hard to find items in Antique Shops. So, I'm asking you that if you have any little item about that rascal Punch and his poor hard-done-by-wife Judy, (who was constantly being beaten by Mr. Punch's stick) that you may care to part with, then please know they'd be going to a caring, loving and appreciative recipient!

 

Here are a few in my collection......the first two are Postcards.  Do these bring back memories?  Yes?  So, you're over 50!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one is a Money Box....    and here are my enamelled thimbles from the UK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: She has ONE EYE watching him!

 

Another Money Box - you insert a coin in the plate held by the guy on the left, pull a lever, then Mr. Punch hits him with his stick because the money is dropped into the "bank". 

 

I also have two books and some Pewter Miniatures which I don't have a photo of but they are my most valuable possession.

 

Now I know many of you may not even have heard of the Punch and Judy Shows, but to many of us, it was part of our childhood years.  The Puppet Show at any fair or event was a MUST SEE!  I ask at every book shop in my travels for the possibility of any books about Punch and Judy and the young staff look right through me with a vague look!

 

Here is a Punch and Judy Puppet Show......

 

 

The character of  “Punch” made his earliest appearance in the 14^th century in Italy, in the Commedia del’Arte dramas, when he was Pulcinella.  Later, in France in the 16^th century, he became Polichinelle, the “hunchbacked fool of French farce,”  and, in 17^th century diaries and journals, he is seen in England as Punchinella, Mr. Punch, and finally, Punch. Punch and Judy shows reached their greatest popularity  in England in  street shows, fairs and small theatres during the 19^th century.  Always a popular event at the British seaside during holiday time.  

 

It’s easy to see the appeal for children of the Punch and Judy shows – characters of all stripes, silly, nonsensical plots and dialogues, quaint, decorated, little stages. Often a live dog, Toby, sat in front of the stage with a ruff around his neck and a hat on. Punch, furthermore, could commit the most heinous of acts and get away with it! Throw the baby out of the window, whack his wife with a big stick, kill off the authorities that come to take him to jail, chase the ghost away, and, his greatest triumph, vanquish the devil himself, all with a merry grin. Pleased as Punch. There was very little in the way of plot that the street watchers had to follow - Punch must contend with a shrewish wife and a screaming baby so he murders them both and is then forced to defend himself from the law officials and do-gooders who try to get him to the gallows. Whether he succeeds in overcoming them is the suspense of the drama, though the fun is in watching how Punch dispatches them all. The variation in the dramas came from the talent of the puppeteers (called “Professors”) who brought the characters to life with their own humor and skill and sense of the outrageous.

 

http://www.wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

I hope you have enjoyed a trip down memory lane! 

Now, do you have any Punch and Judy items needing a new home?